University:
Western Sydney University
Course:
MEDI 2003 | Clinical Sciences 2
Academic year:

2024
Views:

482

Pages:

2
Author:

Mariam A. A.

THE LARYNX ● ● ● ● Goes from the epiglottis to the trachea Anterior to the oesophagus 9 Cartilages that open up to the airways (but the 4 main ones that you need to know are the epiglottis, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and arytenoid cartilage) Functions: ○ Prevents ingested substances from entering the lower respiratory system during swallowing → directs the food into the oesophagus rather than the airways ○ Sound for speech Epiglottis ● More prominent on the posterior side of the larynx ● ‘Lid to the larynx’ ● Protection of the airways/stops anything that's not air from going into the anterior tube ● Closes so that food and fluid falls of the lid and goes posteriorly into the esophagus Thyroid cartilage ● Largest and most anterior ● Gives the larynx its form ● Vocal cords are connected inside the thyroid cartilage - sound ● Adam’s apple which is in males and caused by testosterone Cricoid cartilage ● Like a ring where the decorative/larger part is posterior and the band is anterior (anatomical position) ● Base on which the thyroid cartilage will tolt forward and backward on to produce tone of voice Arytenoid cartilage ● ● ● ● Pyramid shaped cartilage on top of the cricoid cartilage Attachment point for vocal cords (internal thyroid to the arytenoid) They twist on the cricoid cartilage to open and close the space between the vocal cords - sound comes out Air then goes to the trachea